All hail jojoba
It’s almost universally referred to as an oil when, in fact, it’s a polyunsaturated liquid plant wax.
When is an oil not an oil? When it’s a natural beauty product called jojoba. It might look and feel like an oil but it’s actually a nutrient-rich organic wax extracted from the seed of the jojoba plant and has a diverse range of beauty uses. With a global shift away from potentially harmful cosmetic additives like parabens, phthalates and propylene glycol, jojoba, along with other organic products like it, is becoming more and more popular.
The name jojoba — pronounced “ho-ho-ba” — is a derivative of the Native American name for the seed, hohowi. It’s also known as coffeeberry, pig nut and deer nut. Native Americans used jojoba for centuries in medicines and skin treatments; they’d also boil the leaves to brew tea. It was claimed that jojoba had magical properties: it could soothe cuts, help to heal wounds and was used to beautify and soften skin.
As a beauty aid, jojoba has many uses. You’ll find it in moisturisers, haircare products, shaving balms, lipsticks, cuticle creams and more. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, making it a
